Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

The tough economy is getting to everyone.  We are all trying to keep costs to a minimum, and come up with money-saving ideas.  Of course, as goes your economy, so goes the entire economy, including non-profits.  For instance, you did not buy enough Girl Scout Cookies last season:

While your support and enthusiasm drives us to provide outstanding service to girls, we’ve been notified that we’ll receive approximately $45,000 less than we budgeted from our United Ways, and our cookie program came in approximately $300,000 under budget. We also know the mileage reimbursement rate will increase again shortly and we can expect that other expenses will follow. We must now identify tangible ways to reduce expenses to make up for the known shortfalls.

After careful consideration and a cost-savings analysis, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida will be closing the service center and branch offices one day a week resulting in most full-time staff moving to a four-day work week.

A four day work week!!!?  From the Girl Scouts!!?!!??

“Thank God it’s Thursday!!”  … just doesn’t sound right.  But it is…

CEO Jody Johnston says the organization expects to save about $200 each day the office is closed, and employees will save about 20% on fuel costs by driving one less day per week. 

It’s not perfect, of course.  Many workers have had to alter their families’ schedules for the switch.  Parents had to make arrangements for their kids’ summer programs, and come August, school routines will be different, too.  Still, the Girl Scouts are working with each employee individually to make sure these types of concerns are addressed.

Along with the logistics of such a change, staffers are not yet used to getting up so early, and find themselves a bit tired by the end of the day.  They expect that it is simply a matter of getting used to it. 

Some are still getting used to the idea of NOT working on Friday.  Chief Marketing Officer Kristin Whitaker says she found herself thinking about work, and has even been checking email from home those days.

But she also notes that a three-day weekend is nice, and that she finally has the time for personal business, such as making those doctor appointments she has been putting off.  The commute is more pleasant now, too.  “Traffic is better since we aren’t on the road for rush hour.”

It seems there is not much of a down side, and the two managers I talked to are quite optimistic.

Interesting that of all the places that you would think of testing this, the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) just don’t come to mind.  Yet they are the ones moving setting the pace.  Pretty cool.

Oh, and all of this doesn’t mean you can get away without buying Girl Scout Cookies in January, either.

After the jump, find a list of other organizations discussing the option, and the email Q&A with GSWCF CEO Jody Johnston.

Other places that are going to four day work weeks:

• On August 4, Utah will become the first state to institute a mandatory four day work week for most of its employees.
• Fairfax county in Virgina is considering a four day work week.

On the local scene,

• The Bradenton Herald says that government entities Anna Maria, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch have adopted the four-day workweek (more on Bradenton’s move at Tampa Bay’s 10).
• The Gradebook says local school districts are looking at the option of a four day week.
• The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections has gone to an “extended, four day work week,” with rotating days off so the office will be open longer hours, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 am until 6:00 pm.

Email exchange with GSWCF CEO Jody Johnston:

I understand you just started the practice - any drawbacks thus far?

Admittedly the hardest part for the staff members has been adjusting to an earlier start time. Because of the nature of our work with volunteers, most staff work more than 40 hours a week anyway but it seems that we’re all struggling with being tired - something we acknowledge will ease over time. The positives are that everyone is seeing their commute get shorter as the traffic patterns are very different at the times we’re now on the road to work and home.

Do the staff members still work 40 hours?

Yes, all staff are working at least 40 hours per week. Because of family responsibilities and the ability to do some work from home, some people have opted to continue working a five day week.

Where are you realizing the most savings?

Prior to making this decision, we looked at all of our operating costs. While we haven’t seen any financial savings yet, we expect to save approximately $200 for each day we are closed. These savings will come from lower electric, water and phone costs. Additionally our staff should benefit personally as their commute will be only four days instead of five - with gas prices today, that means a lot to some people.

Are the staff members happy with the arrangement?

When we made this announcement, I’ll admit there was grumbling from some staff members but overall I think they’re seeing the value of this new work schedule. The fact that so many businesses are adopting a four day work week is helping them recognize this is the wave of the future. When we talk to other Girl Scout councils across the country that have made a similar move, we hear that those who have been doing this for some time don’t want to go back to a five day week - and that’s encouraging.

I followed up with a phone call to Chief Marketing Officer Kristin Whitaker, who said the biggest problem for most was the upsetting of home schedules.  She also stressed that the Girl Scouts addressed each staffer’s concern individually, and without that individualized approach, the transition may have been more difficult for all.

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